Baked beans taste 'delicious' and way better if you add 1 unusual ingredient

Baked beans, a humble staple of British cupboards, have just received a gourmet makeover, and it's all thanks to one unexpected ingredient. According to top chefs are elevating the classic comfort food with a splash of wine, turning it into something far more refined and delicious.

Ed Grace, chef at the acclaimed London restaurant Trullo, has created what he calls a Tuscan twist on the beloved baked beans and sausage combo. "Everyone knows how good baked beans and sausages are together," Grace told The Guardian, "but when they're cooked with wine and sage, too, they turn into a simple yet delicious dinner."

His method is straightforward but transformative. For two people, he starts by browning six quality sausages in a pan until golden.

Then, he reduces the heat and adds two finely sliced garlic cloves, three sage leaves, and half a tablespoon of fennel seeds.

After letting those cook gently for a few minutes, he pours in 75ml of white wine, allowing it to bubble and evaporate, infusing the dish with aromatic depth.

Once the wine has done its magic, in goes a tin of baked beans, 500g of spinach, and a ladleful of chicken stock (or water).

The whole mixture simmers for about five minutes until the spinach wilts and the sauce thickens into a rich, savoury stew. A drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil finishes it off.

Grace's wine-infused beans are part of a wider movement to bring flair to familiar ingredients.

Other chefs suggest sprucing up canned beans with everything from chipotle paste and tomato puree to olive oil, garlic, and herbs.

Food writer Rosie Maidment even recommends turning them into taco fillings with avocado and grated cheese.

With the cost of living in mind and summer entertaining around the corner, this low-effort, high-impact twist offers an easy way to impress without breaking the bank, or reaching for the takeaway menu.

So next time you crack open a tin of beans, consider adding a splash of wine, and turn your everyday meal into something extraordinary.